In January 2023, Jonathan Majors was poised for a breakout year. He had a major role as Kang that would drive Marvel films for years, and he had the movie that would take him into the awards season as a frontrunner for Best Actor: Magazine Dreams. Debuting at Sundance, the controversial but critically acclaimed drama was to be Majors’ big ticket. But then he was arrested and eventually convicted on assault charges and it all went away. Magazine Dreams was dropped by Disney’s Searchlight Pictures with no plan for it ever to be released.
I’ve always said that Magazine Dreams would be released someday. There’s just too much interest in it, and Majors would be eventually forgiven. Turns out that time is now, as Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired the rights to Magazine Dreams for a planned release in early 2025.
Written and directed by Elijah Bynum, the film stars Majors as Killian Maddox, a man driven by an obsession to be the best bodybuilder in the world, with little care to the damage his extreme workouts and steroid use are having on him and the body he’s attempting to perfect.
Magazine Dreams was controversial for the violent turn it eventually took, mirroring such films as Joker and Taxi Driver, with an added racial component. I had issues with the film overall, but always felt it a movie that must be seen for Majors’ jaw-dropping performance.
If the film does eventually open next year, it will be very interesting to see if the awards buzz picks back up for Majors. Has there been enough distance for him to make a comeback? I have serious doubts, but we’ll see very soon. [Deadline]
